Sermon #24 Luke
Sermons
Title: LESSONS FROM CAPERNAUM
Text: Luke 4:31-44
Subject: Christ
in Capernaum
Date: Sunday Evening -- February 13, 2000
Tape
# V-70a
Readings: Office:
Don Martin Auditorium: Merle Hart
Introduction:
When the Jews at Nazareth threw him out of their synagogue
and tried to murder him for preaching the gospel, our Lord came down to
Capernaum, another Galilean city. Let's follow him through Capernaum, as the
story is told by Luke in Luke 4:31-44.
Luke 4:31-44
31 And (the Lord Jesus) came
down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
32 And they were astonished at
his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there
was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud
voice,
34 Saying, Let us alone; what
have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I
know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
35 And Jesus rebuked him,
saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him
in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
36 And they were all amazed,
and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and
power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
37 And the fame of him went out
into every place of the country round about.
38 And he arose out of the
synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken
with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
39 And he stood over her, and
rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered
unto them.
40 Now when the sun was
setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him;
and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
41 And devils also came out of
many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking
them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
42 And when it was day, he
departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto
him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
43 And he said unto them, I
must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
44 And he preached in the
synagogues of Galilee.
The title of my message tonight is Lessons From Capernaum. I want
to simply show you five very obvious and very practical lessons from these
verses of Scripture.
I.
The first thing that stands out in this passage is the fact that preaching
is god's ordained means of grace (vv. 31, 32, 43, 44).
Our text
begins and ends with statements about our Lord preaching the gospel.
31.And
(the Lord Jesus) came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on
the sabbath days.
32.
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
43. And he said unto them, I
must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
44. And he preached in the
synagogues of Galilee.
Our
Savior placed great importance upon the preaching of the gospel. In fact, he
said, "I must preach the kingdom of
God…for therefore am I sent." Preaching was his business.
I stress
this fact because we live in a day in which preaching is belittled, set aside,
and considered out of date by the religious world. While I readily acknowledge
that most preaching is irrelevant, gospel preaching is not. Rather, the
preaching of the gospel is the most important aspect of the church's life and
ministry in every age.
Ever beware of those who make little of preaching, and of
any tendency to set aside to ministry of the Word. The church is never stronger
than her pulpit. The church is strong when the pulpit is strong. The church is
irrelevant when the pulpit is irrelevant. The preaching of the gospel is God's
ordained means of grace to his people, the means by which God saves, edifies,
comforts and directs his people in this world (Eph. 4:8, 11-16).
Wherefore
he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men.
(Ephesians 4:8 AV)
11.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and
some, pastors and teachers;
12.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:
13.
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ:
14.
That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15.
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is
the head, [even] Christ:
16.
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which
every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of
every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
(Ephesians 4:11-16 AV)
Look at what Luke tells us about our Lord's preaching, back
in Luke 4:31-32, 43-44.
A. Our Savior was a preacher of
doctrine.
B. His doctrine was
astonishing. -- He preached "the
kingdom of God."
C. His word fell upon the
hearts of men with power. -- His every word was intentional, weighty, powerful.
His gospel came "in demonstration of
the Spirit and power."
II.
Another thing which stands out in this passage and needs to be
understood is the fact that Satan, and hell, and demons are real (vv.
33-37).
33. And in the synagogue there was a man, which
had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34. Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do
with thee, [thou] Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee
who thou art; the Holy One of God.
35. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy
peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he
came out of him, and hurt him not.
36. And they were all amazed, and spake among
themselves, saying, What a word [is] this! for with authority and power he
commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
37. And the fame of him went out into every place
of the country round about.
(Luke 4:33-37 AV)
I will not have much to say about this, but I want to be
understood. Demonology is not something play with or ignore. Hell is not a
nightmare. It is real. Satan is not the boogie man, but the prince of darkness.
Demons are not mythical monsters, but fallen angels. Satan, and hell, and the
demons of hell are bent upon the destruction of your soul and the dishonor of
God.
I do not mean to suggest that these things are now, or ever
can be, out of control. Not at all. "For
this purpose," the Book tells us, "Christ
was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." And he
demonstrates his power over hell in this fourth chapter of Luke's gospel. What
does this passage tell us about the devil?
A. The devil is an unclean
spirit.
B. This unclean spirit works
evil in the souls of men, just as he did in their bodies during the days of our
Lord's earthly ministry.
C. Those who are under Satan's
strongest influence are often found in the house of God.
D. The devils, the demons of
hell have nothing to do with Christ (v. 34). -- "For, verily, he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took
on him the seed of Abraham."
E. The Lord Jesus Christ always
has the devil under his control (vv. 35-36). When he says to hell, "Hold thy peace," all hell
holds its peace! With authority and power, he commands the unclean spirits.
III.
Be sure you do not miss this third lesson. -- Knowledge is not salvation
(v. 34).
Saying,
Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, [thou] Jesus of Nazareth? art
thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
(Luke 4:34 AV)
Even the demons of hell have faith, doctrinally accurate
faith, better faith than most Baptists (They believe and tremble!); but not
saving faith. Beware of unsanctified knowledge. It is a dangerous snare by
which many are destroyed. Head knowledge, without heart experience is a
positive curse.
Spiritual knowledge, gospel knowledge, a saving knowledge
of Christ is knowledge accompanied by faith, inspiring hope, producing love.
We must never be content with knowing Bible facts, Bible
history, Bible "trivia," or even Bible doctrine. Salvation is knowing
God (John 17:3).
Here
are some questions worth considering…
A. Does my knowledge of sin
make me hate it?
B. Does my knowledge of Christ
cause me to trust him, love him, and honor him?
C. Does my knowledge of God's
will cause me to seek, in all things, to obey it.
D. Does my knowledge of
doctrine make me useful to others?
E. Does my knowledge of grace
make me gracious?
IV.
Learn this and rejoice -- The Lord Jesus Christ is a mighty Savior
(vv. 38-42).
38.
And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's
wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
39. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever;
and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
40. Now when the sun was setting, all they that
had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands
on every one of them, and healed them.
41. And devils also came out of many, crying out,
and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking [them] suffered
them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
42. And when it was day, he departed and went
into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed
him, that he should not depart from them.
(Luke 4:38-42 AV)
Demons and disease alike flee before the word of his power.
By the touch of his hand the fever is removed and the fainting body is made
strong.
The events here recorded are intended to fix our minds upon
the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ is the gracious, omnipotent Healer of all
the evil sin has brought into the world. Christ is the Antidote for the old
serpent's poison. Christ is the remedy for our ruin. Christ is the Physician
for our sin-sick souls. He is our Life, our Health, and our Liberty. As it is
written, "Christ is all and in all!" This is the doctrine
which every recorded miracle in the gospels is intended to teach.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is an able, almighty, omnipotent
Savior (Heb. 7:25).
Wherefore
he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
(Hebrews 7:25 AV)
A. Our blessed Savior still
enters the strong man's house, binds him, casts him out, and takes possession
of the house. -- Regeneration and Conversion.
B. It is still true that all
upon whom he lays his hands, all to whom he speaks in saving power are healed
by him, immediately.
C. All who are healed by Christ
gladly serve him and his people (v. 39).
D. When the day of grace dawns
upon redeemed sinners, all who have known his saving power, tasted his grace,
and experienced his mercy, still lay hold of him, stay him, and plead with him
ever to abide with them (v. 42).
And
when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people
sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from
them. (Luke 4:42 AV)
V.
Look at verse 42 again. Let us learn and remember this great lesson
from our Master's example, -- The believer's great source of strength and
comfort is communion with our God.
As our
Savior frequently sought solitude in some desert place, so that he could pray,
worship, and commune with his Father, should we. Let us follow his example. This is essential if we would…
·
Grow in grace.
·
Know our Father's will.
·
Be useful to others.
·
Honor God in our lives and in our labor.